One of my most favorite quotes is one by a man named Gustav Flaubert. He once said, “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” I think that this idea is the essence of why I travel, and why everyone else should travel as well.

There is a tiny island in the north-east corner of the Bahamas, it is called Treasure Cay and is part of the Abaco chain. I have been going to this island since I was little, and the memories and adventures I have made here are truly some of the most incredible experiences of my life. Here is where I learned about my deepest passion, free diving. In the crystal blue waters of the Bahamas, you can see straight through the water, all the way to the bottom, no matter how deep you are. You can see the hundreds of colorful fish that swim around, no matter where you jump in. You can feel the warm water, slowly rocking you as the sun begins to tan your skin. All these things combine to provide an incredibly peaceful atmosphere, one in which I find myself constantly drawn back to, no matter how many times I go. Yet, the best part of all of it, when you are diving on the many reefs of the barrier islands, and you go to the bottom, and simply stop moving, the only thing you hear is the water moving the sand and hitting the rocks. It is an incredibly peaceful, yet violent noise that I will never forget, and it is in this moment, diving between two giant reefs, only hearing the silence of the ocean, seeing the immaculate life that abound under the water, that I realize just how small I am.

I recently took a trip back to this place I sometimes call my second home, however, this time I brought some people with me that had never been somewhere in the Caribbean. 8 of them to be exact. Immediately, we got in the water, and I began to try to help these guys experience the intense silence and peace that comes with being in nature. We were able to rent two boats, and although the other's diving capabilities where not exactly on par with those who I usually go with, we were able to have an incredible trip hopping form island to island. Tasting the food, breathing the air, feeding the famed swimming pigs, and, of course, soaking up as much sun as possible.

The Carribean, I think, is the most incredible place to travel because of the variety of opportunities that it offers. One family can do and have it all. The kids can snorkel the beautiful reefs, the parents can relax on the beach or in the pool. The food is incredible, nothing beats fresh fish or lobster that comes out of the very water you find yourself surrounded by. The culture is alive with tropical music, smiles, and a slowed down sense of time that is truly inspiring. Growing up in south Florida, I thought for a while that I knew what the Caribbean was like, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. To truly experience this culture is something that I still enjoy, no matter how many times I go, and to share these experiences with others is something I continue to do as often as possible.